Additional eleven new private universities have been approved with the nation’s education minister, Dr. Maruf Alausa presenting provisional licences to them today, April 30. These bring to 159, the number of private universities in the country.
The new universities are City University, Ayetoro, Ogun State; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi, FCT, Abuja; Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun Annex and Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara State.
Others are Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State; Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun State; Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City, Edo State; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos State and Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
Dr. Maruf Alausa, while presentating the licenses to representatives of the new universities, said that a true university should be a hub for education, talent development and innovation.
He said that such University needs to be supported by competent staff and modern facilities, and prioritizing research and extending beyond local boundaries to global relevance.
He advised private universities to lead in academic excellence and align with national goals in STEM and technical education to address the shortage of skilled professionals in key sectors like healthcare and engineering.
He also called for collaboration among universities, both locally and internationally, to enhance resources, credibility and programme diversity.
He encouraged them to be bold, visionary, and proactive in transforming Nigeria’s higher education.
“We are therefore charging all private universities, especially the new entrants here today, to align with our national priorities of expansive STEM education.
“In addition to STEM, we do have science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and education sciences, as well as our technical and vocational education and training agenda.
“These are the pillars upon which Nigeria will build its future workforce and industrial competitiveness. And the issue is the urgency of skilled professions in areas such as nursing, pharmacy, doctors, physical therapists, and competent engineers. We are more than enough social science graduates, with due respect, but we have to be realistic here.
“What Nigeria needs now are programme solvers, graduates with life skills that can power industries, build infrastructures, and improve the lives of engineers. Furthermore, the future of higher education is collaborative.
“I challenge private universities to form strategic alliances among themselves, share best practices, and even consider majors where feasible.
“These partnerships can help pool resources, expand programme offerings, and enhance academic credibility. Beyond local collaboration, we also encourage you to forge affiliations with reputable foreign universities.
“I have travelled widely across the globe and know that Nigeria is an attractive destination for transnational education.”
This was even as the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad described the event as a significant progress in improving access to tertiary education.
He called on them to uphold academic integrity.
“These represent a significant extension of our universities’ carrying capacities and promote healthy competition and the development of Nigeria.”
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, congratulated the promoters of the new universities for the establishment of the institutions.
He said that private universities play a vital role in complementing the existing ones, and that the process of establishment has evolved, with 159 private universities now in existence, including the newly approved ones.
He said that the Commission recognizes the significance of private universities in enhancing access to tertiary education, noting that the provisional license is granted for three years, after which a substantive license will be issued.
He advised the universities to deploy the necessary resources for their commencement and encouraged them to find effective ways of implementing the CCMASS.
Ribadu charged them to adhere to NUC regulations, adding that each of the new universities has been attached to an already established institution for mentorship.
Also speaking, JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, advised the institutions to exercise integrity and sincerity, not imposing religious beliefs on candidates.
Özellikle lüks konut projelerinde, lüks su arıtma cihazı tercih edilmesi artık bir standart haline geldi. Arıtmapark, bu yeni yaşam standartlarına uygun olarak geliştirdiği ürünlerle, sağlıklı içme suyu konforunu her eve taşıyor. Zarif, kompakt ve son teknoloji ürünleriyle, hem bireysel kullanıcılara hem de büyük projelere özel çözümler sunuyor.